Counting device



March 31, 1942. H. L. BORNFLETH COUNTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. f/nmup Lou/J Boa/#45771 A TTORNEYS.

Match 3 9 H. L. BORNFLETH 2,278,237

OOUNTINGDEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVfi/VTOR #92040 laws doe/vain Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE COUNTING DEVICE Harold Louis Bornfleth, Rochester, Minn.

Application February 4, 1939, Serial No. 254,634

3 Claims.

through the same for depositing the chicks placed therein into the chick-boxes. Means is provided for tallying the chicks as they are deposited to insure the proper quota being deposited into the chick-boxes. A further means is employed to signal to the operator when the number of chicks being deposited has reached a predetermined total.

The invention in all of its details will be more fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of the-table.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit and connected signal means forming part of the invention. 7

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 of the feeding means through a deposit counter chute for the chicks forming part of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view in detail on line 4-4 of Figure '1 of the tallying and indicating means forming part of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A represents the sexing table for use by the operator in the sexing and separation of male and female chicks. The top 2 of the table is formed with a depressed center, the bottom 3 of which forms a support in front of the operator for holding a tray of unsexed chicks.

Inset in each side of the table top above the chick-boxes are the deposit counter-chutes for the chicks. Each counter-chute consists of a preferably square passage portion 6 inset in an opening in the table-top. As shown, the outer wall of the counter-chute at its lower end is doubled upon itself to form a portion 1 that will fit into the opening of the table top. The doubled portion 1 is then bent outwardly to form a flange 8 to rest upon the table top and form a support. Above the flanged portion 8 and connected with the inner wall 6 is a wall 9 spaced from the inner wall and forming a surrounding chamber for the chute.

Supported on one side of the upper end of the chute is the shaft I0. Upon the shaft is secured the platform II. A counterweighted arm I2 extending from the platform normally holds the platform in position closing the top of the chute.

In operation the chick to be deposited in the chick-boxes is placed upon the platform and will by its weight incline the platform into the counter chute turning its supporting shaft I0 and the platform then being swung back into closing position by the counter-weighted arm I2.

Having pivotal support I3 on the outer face of one of the walls 6 is a counter disc B inscribed around near the periphery of its outer face with numerals I4. Projecting inward from the face of the disc in a circle inside the numerals are the spaced apart pins I5. The end of the shaft II) of the platform is provided with a link I6 fixed thereupon, which is connected with the outer end of a counter actuating arm ll. Arm I1 is likewise provided on its lower edge with a projection Ila acting as a pin rider and a disengaging means for the finger I8 from pin I5 when a predetermined travel of the dial by one actuation of the mechanism has been achieved.

The arm I1 is likewise provided on its lower edge with a depression Ilb which permits the proper seating of actuating arm and its finger I8. The arm furthermore is extended and enlarged at its extreme end Ilc to permit extra Weighted leverage upon said arm Il and to assist proper drop into contacting position as is best shown in Figure 4.

The finger portion I8 of arm Il fits between the pins I5 so that in each tripping operation of the counter chute platform II, the arm Il will be moved forward by the link I6 to partially rotate the counter disc B with the actuation of the arm ll. When a predetermined travel of the disc has been made, the pin rider Ila engages an adjacent pin I5 and disengages arm Il from further actuation. Upon the return to normal position of the counter chute platform ll, arm I! likewise will be returned to normal position as shown in Figure 4. Friction to rotation prevents the reverse rotation of disc B, the finger portion I8 riding over the surface of the pins I5.

When the pin-rider Ila is withdrawn from riding position on pins I5 the depression Ilb permits the proper seating of finger I8 between the pins IS. The outer wall 9 of the chute is formed with an opening I9 and the counter operating parts are so proportioned that each tilting of the counter will rotate the counter disc the amount necessary to bring the next number on the disc into the opening.

In order to give a signal to the operator when there has been deposited in the chick box a predetermined number of chicks, mercury tube 20 having pivotal support 2| adjacent to the counter disc is actuated. The supporting arm 22 for the mercury tube is provided with a counterweight 23 normally holding the tube and its supporting arm 22 swung upon the supporting arm 2| into the position shown in Figure 4 with the arm 22 held in contact with the pin 24 and the tube held in a tilted position holding the mercury in the rear lower end of the tube.

Supported in the front end of the tube are the electrodes 25 electrically connected as indicated in Figure 2 with signal lights 26 preferably secured in the table top adjacent the operator. Projecting forwardly from the mercury tube is a finger 21 overlapping the counter, the counter disc being provided with a projecting pin 28 in position to strike the finger after the disk is rotated to bring a predetermined number of counting numbers past the finger. As the finger 21 is struck and depressed it will swing the mercury tube and its support rearwardly upon the fulcrum to allow the mercury to flow to the forward end of the tube and make electrical connection between the electrodes 25 energizing the lights 26 and indicating to the operator that a predetermined number of chicks have been deposited in the chick box.

The ordinary chick box is divided into compartments as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 and the chicks are counted for each compartment. The chick boxes are properly positioned so that the chick boxes may be moved sidewise and lengthwise beneath the chute to bring the different compartments respectively under the chick deposit counter chute.

In order to accommodate the checking mechanism between the inner and outer walls of the chick deposit counter chute, the walls 6 and 9 as shown in Figure 1 are spaced apart relatively more than the walls in the sides and rear. The walls 6 and 9 will thus be brought close enough together to give the desired strength and bracing to the counter chute and at the same time the wider spacing of the front walls may furnish sufficient capacity for the proper housing of the counting means.

I claim:

1. In a counting apparatus of the class described comprising in combination with a table top support formed with a delivery opening, a chute including an outer wall supported in said opening, a spaced apart inner wall connected at its upper end with said outer Wall, and forming a central delivery passage, a counterweighted closure for said passage, a pivotal support within said inner wall for said closure supporting said closure for movement between two extreme positions, one in which the closure when depressed, swings down into the chute and the other in biasing said closure to the latter position, an enlarged counter enclosing chamber at one side of the closure formed by spaced apart inner and outer chute walls, a disc counter within said chamber supported adjacent the inner wall, and operative means between said disc counter and said closure to operate the counter in the tilting of said closure on its pivot.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of separated pins supported on the rear face of the disc forming a part of said operative means, an actuating lever for said disc operatively connected to said closure for actuation thereby and forming a part of said operative means, a finger carried by said lever in position to engage with a pin upon said disc to actuate said disc in the reciprocation of the lever, said lever being formed with a depression at the rear of said finger and a rider portion carried by said lever to engage with an adjacent pin upon said disc and raise said lever.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said outer wall is out-turned between its ends to form a support to rest upon said table, and said inner and outer walls at their upper ends being connected by a horizontal wall section to bring about a stiffening support for the purpose set forth.

HAROLD LOUIS BORNFLETH. 

